FSF Seminars in 2004

FSF Offers Seminars on Study and
Analysis of the GPL and Legal Ethics in Free Software
Licensing

On January 20
and 21, 2004, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) will offer two
day-long seminars on Free Software Licensing and the GNU GPL at
Columbia Law School in New York. The two days will provide a
detailed study and analysis of the GPL, review a few case
studies and look at legal ethics in Free Software
Licensing. The
seminars will be co-led by Daniel Ravicher, Senior Counsel to FSF and
Bradley M. Kuhn, Executive Director of FSF.

Detailed Study and Analysis of GPL and LGPL,
the seminar on January 20, will give a section-by-section explanation
of the most popular Free Software copyright license, the GNU General
Public License (GNU GPL), and will educate lawyers, software
developers, managers and business people on how to use the GPL (and
GPL'd software) successfully in a new Free Software business and in
existing, successful enterprises.

On January 21, FSF will offer GPL Compliance Case Studies
and Legal Ethics in Free Software Licensing. Also a
day-long seminar, which will present the details of five different
GPL compliance cases handled by FSF's GPL Compliance Laboratory.
Each case offers unique insights into problems that can arise when
the terms of GPL are not properly followed, and how diplomatic
negotiation between the violator and the copyright holder can yield
positive results for both parties. This course also includes a unit
on the ethical considerations for attorneys who want to represent
clients that make use of or sell Free Software products.

Lunchtime Speaker

Eben
Moglen will be the lunchtime speaker. Professor Moglen is
Professor of Law and Legal History at Columbia Law School and one of
the nation's foremost scholars on copyright, patents and the proposed
“Broadcast Flag”. He is also a member of FSF's Board of
Directors and the foundation's General Counsel. Professor Moglen has
also written extensively on the SCO vs IBM lawsuit.

Detailed Study and Analysis of GPL and LGPL

January 20, 9 am to 6 pm

Prerequisites

Attendees should have a general
familiarity with software development processes. A basic
understanding of how copyright law typically applies to software is
also helpful.

Audience

The
course is of most interest to lawyers, software developers and
managers who run (or have clients who run) software businesses that
modify and/or redistribute software under terms of the GNU GPL or
LGPL, or who wish to make use of existing GPL'd and LGPL'd software in
their enterprise.

The course will include the topics listed below, along with ample
time for questions and discussions.

Prerequisites

Attendees should have successfully
completed the course, a Detailed Study and Analysis of GPL and
LGPL, as the material from that course forms the building blocks
for this material, or have attended a previous Free Software
Licensing and the GNU GPL Seminar.

Audience

The
course is of most interest to lawyers who have clients or employers
that deal with Free Software on a regular basis. However, technical
managers and executives whose businesses use or distribute Free
Software will also find the course very helpful.

The course will include the topics listed below, along with ample
time for questions and discussions.

GPL Compliance Case Studies:

Overview of FSF's
GPL Compliance Lab

GPL Violation Case Study A

Explains how FSF deals with sometimes
belligerent violators.

GPL Violation Case Study B

Explains how smoothly violations can
be resolved and the process that an otherwise friendly violator can
expect.

GPL Violation Case Study C

Problems faced regarding kernel
modules for device drivers for government-regulated hardware, and cases
where both an upstream provider and a downstream distributor are in
violation on separate matters.

GPL Violation Case Study D

Violations from a company committed
to doing Free Software but has occasional GPL violations or
near-violations.

Good Practices for GPL Compliance

Ethical Considerations for the Attorney Practicing Free
Software

Part I:
Representing Free Software Clients

Part II: Practicing Free Software

Part III: More General Ethical Considerations Relevant to Free
Software

Pricing (Book by December 24, 2003 for registration
discount)

Both Courses: $875 for registrations on
or before December 24, 2003 and $975 after December 24

First Course Only: $495 for
registrations on or before December 24, 2003 and $595 after December
24

Financial Aid
Policy: Applicants with annual incomes of up to $15,000 are
entitled to a 75% discount. People with incomes between $15,000 and
$30,000 receive a 50% discount. Any member of the judiciary,
academics or attorneys from non-profit organizations receive a 10%
discount. If you fall within one of these categories, please contact
John at <johns@fsf.org> or
Ravi at <ravi@fsf.org> or by
phone at 617.620.9640.

CLE
Credits: Attorneys who successfully
complete Detailed Study and Analysis of GPL and
LGPL on January 20, will be entitled to 7 New York Transitional CLE
credits. Those who complete GPL Compliance Case
Studies and Legal Ethics in Free Software
Licensing on January 21, will be entitled to a total of 7.5 New York
Transitional CLE credits, 3 in the area of Professional Practice and
4.5 toward the Ethics and Professionalism requirments.

Companies that
have signed up as Corporate Patrons of FSF receive two complimentary
seats at the seminar and reduced rates for additional participants.
Please contact patron@fsf.org for more details. You can find out more
about the Corporate Patron Program
at
http://patron.fsf.org.

Both days of
the seminar will be held at Columbia Law School in New York.
Directions will be sent following registration. For more information,
please contact Ravi Khanna, FSF's Director of Communication
at <ravi@fsf.org> or by
calling 1+617-620-9640.